Tuesday, 28 February 2017

Subtitled ‘Avoiding “When I was Young” and other Brain-exploding Lectures’,
this book is not likely to be purchased by parents but by a certain kind of
child. Basically it is a series of addresses by Sam, a country boy with an
‘annoying, diarrhoea pants, little snot-nose sister, Miss Smelly Melly Poop
Pants’ who discovers a thick book – ‘Boring Useless Lectures, Lessons,
Children’s Rules and Punishments’… BULLCRAP for short, which contains
information Sam uses to explore in rants about parents and other adults.

The book is divided into five
parts with titles such as Awesome Excuses and Uses, Bending the Rules and Dumb
Things Parents Say! In Part One, ‘Boring Lectures That Explode Your Brain, and
How to Get Out of Them,’ Sam raves at and mocks parents who he says are always
giving ‘mind-numbing lectures where they waffle on about dead-boring stuff’
which the little smart aleck says he already knows. Throughout the book Sam
vents his frustration and anger at adults who try to help, guide and correct
him.

To tell the truth, as one mature
adult to this (presumably adult) review reader, it seems to me that Sam is an
obnoxious know-it-all who refuses to listen to the voice of his elders. He
hates his sister and treats his (long-suffering, I’m sure) parents as though
they are boring, punishing, over-bearing and useless. Who would want such a
son?

It’s pretty obvious I’m sure that
readers of this review will realise the book doesn’t impress me. But it might –
who knows – be poured over and devoured by any child who feels he or she
suffers at the hands of adults. The book is well designed and illustrated with
black and white, accomplished illustrations.

Monday, 27 February 2017

I loved both the front and back
covers of this picture book by a well-known Australian picture book creator,
but when I opened it, the fly pages took my breath away: they are simply
sumptuous, so lovely -- a mass of foliage of all shades of green with the
occasional flower or small animal. On the title page, the word ‘Florette’ is
decorated with sprigs of greenery and flowers while below it a small child in
short plants is offering a plant to a sitting dog.

This is the story of Mae who
wants to take her garden with her when her family moves to a new home. However,
‘there was no room among the crowded roof-tops for apple trees and daffodils.’
All around the small child lies concrete and there are no opportunities for her
to ‘chase butterflies in the wavy grass.’ Even the park in her new home is
filled with ‘tiny stones and empty chairs.’ Following a bird, Mae comes across
a beautiful shop filled with greenery, but sadly it’s closed. Outside it,
though, she finds a ‘stalk of green.’ She plants this in a jar on a window
ledge in her apartment.

In the final double-page
illustration the outdoor’s courtyard where children used to play hopscotch and
other chalk games, is filled with many pots of leafy plants and children who
play and help tend Mae’s new garden. And in the final single page illustration
we see the front of the apartment block where windows bloom with vegetation.
Mission accomplished!

This delightful picture book
shows readers how it is possible to fulfill one’s vision even when it doesn’t
seem possible, simply by being persistent and taking a new perspective. It
shows too the power of the imagination, the magic of the natural world and
resilience in the face of change. Mae’s experience must surely encourage
children to ‘green’ their environment no matter where they live.

The text of Florette is simple, the sentences short and sweet: the
illustrations, often set with lots of white space are poignant and compelling.
This book is highly recommended especially for readers aged 5 to 7 years.

Sunday, 26 February 2017

As a child I would have loved to
receive this book – and as an adult I’m delighted to read and review it. All
Dorling Kinsley books are beautifully designed, researched by experts and full
of amazing and fascinating facts – and this book is no exception.

Fully coloured, this is a small
book filled with full colour page spreads (mostly photographs) on all aspects
of Ancient Egypt such as boats and trade, gods, artwork, tombs, Pharaohs,
soldiers and war, even how to make a tomb -- and much, much more. Take the
pages on Food and Drink: the diet for poor people mainly consisted of bread and
beer as well as spring onions and nabk (which tasted like apples) but cucumber
was a ‘fancy’ food. Rich people on the other hand ate dates, lotus root, figs,
honey, yogurt, pomegranates and melons as well as meats, principally beef. We
read on these pages that a rich Egyptian called Mereruka had hyenas fattened
for a feast!

In the section on Children in
Egypt, there’s a board game which highlights the dangers these ancient children
faced such as falling into the river Nile and being chased by a hungry
crocodile, and being stung by a scorpion. If you land on spot 12, you get
another go because ‘you’re a natural red-head’ and ‘red hair is rare in Egypt
and a symbol of the god Seth.

There are so many unusual and
fascinating facts in this entrancing book, all set out in easy to read style with
lots of break-out boxes, diagrams, and photographic captions. Learn about
mummified dung, secret messages, the importance of the number 10, facts about
missing parts, explorers, servants, pyramid building and so much more. Any
child reading this book is sure to drive the family mad because they will
constantly making discoveries and relating them.

This book is highly recommended
for schools and for children, especially those aged 8 to12 years.

Saturday, 25 February 2017

There is a lot that 17 year old
Amelia wishes she could forget in as she attempts to negotiate difficulties in
her life as she works towards her final year 12 in high school. Central to her
studies is her passion for practical art where she works under the watchful and
critical eye of teacher Ms M. Amelia attempts a self-portrait, made more
difficult by problems which escalate in her life.

In no particular order is the
disintegration of her friendship with long-time bestie Gemma who slips into
such a poor state of anorexia that she is hospitalised. Then there is the
deterioration of Amelia’s much loved Dad, Simon, who is clearly not coping. In
fact, Dad is acting irrationally, constantly muttering to himself, speaking
repetitively, driving dangerously, drinking too much, even urinating in a
corner of the lounge-room: before long he is diagnosed with early onset
Alzheimer’s. Mum finds it difficult to manage him as she works full-time, so
much of the caring for Dad falls on Amelia’s shoulders.

Amelia’s recurring thoughts of
the helplessness of people trying to escape the damage caused by planes
crashing into the twin towers of the World Trade Centre reflect her attempts to
negotiate the constantly changing troubles in her own life. With Gemma mostly non-communicative,
Amelia turns to friendship with popular and talented artist Poppy who seems to
have her act all together. But Poppy, too, comes from a dysfunctional family:
her hippy mother reads tarot cards. Happily, she gives Amelia hope with the
cards that her future might be more promising than the present. ‘Potential
doesn’t mean anything without application,’ she says, which might well sum up
Amelia’s future both in art and in relationships.

Australian Julia Lawrinson writes
clearly and well. The characters she portrays, even minor ones such as Dad’s
dog Hecta, and his eventual carer Rosetta, are all three-dimensional and
interesting. The reader comes to really care about Amelia and the problems in
her life. She is a strong character who does the best she can under difficult
circumstances. And then there’s the cute boy next door – Will, who offers
friendship – and the possibility of a romance.

Ultimately this is an ultimately
uplifting story which, like life for all of us, and especially for teenagers, is
constantly changing as are our family and friendships and circumstances. As the
book concludes, Amelia observes that it’s like watching

the tide go out: ‘the waves lose
their strength… and the water recedes into the ocean… before you know it… you
can swim in the flat water.’ One day her father might not recognise her. And
she is able to come to terms with that.

This is a brave book exploring
many themes and certainly worthy of attention. Perhaps it will win awards.

Friday, 24 February 2017

Subtitled ‘Remarkable Women who
shaped our world’, this is a handsome, thoroughly researched non-fiction book
crammed with so many facts and figures presented in a beautifully designed book
with hundreds of colour photographs and graphics and with many break-outs. It’s
a book which doesn’t need to be read through from page one to the end, but one
which can be dipped into again and again. It’s the sort of book a feminist
would love and would love giving to children aged from 10 years and up.

I thought I knew my history of
amazing women – and yet, reading this book, I have only a small knowledge.
Opening at random, I find a double-page spread about two impressive females –
one a child, the other a woman. Sophie Scholl was ‘an ordinary student who
stood up to the might of Hitler and the Nazis’: she joined the Hitler Youth
Movement but soon came to despise the hate-filled beliefs of the Nazis and
helped to form the White Rose, a small non-violent movement that carried out a
pamphlet and graffiti campaign against them. Sadly, she was sentenced to death
for her ‘crime’ and executed. Pole Rosa Luxemburn was a radical, who tried to
start a socialism revolution in post-war Germany, but she too was executed
(without a trial) for her troubles.

There are dozens of women
highlighted here. Some are well known, such as Rosa Parks, Aung San Suu Kyi,
Malala Yousafzai, Angela Merkel, Joan of Arc and Catherine the Great. But there
are others not so well known – Wu Zetian, Sacagawea, Maria Quiteria de Jesus,
Shirin Ebadi, Ellen Johnson Sierleaf and Graca Machel to name but a few.

The book is divided into
sections: Clued-Up Creatives, Super Scientists, Inspiring Campaigners, Leading
Ladies, Intrepid Entrepreneurs and Amazing Achievers. If you cannot name at
least five women in each of these categories, then you are strongly advised to
buy a copy and learn about them before passing on the book (though you might
very well want to keep it). Highly recommended!

Here are two chapter books in
the Tommy Bell series where readers can enjoy fast-paced fictional adventures
with real bushrangers. InShoot-Out
at the Rock,Tommy is sent to
Grandpa’s farm after getting into trouble at school near Uralla. There Grandpa
gives him a horse called Combo to use. Together, horse and riding explore a
cave: it is here that Tommy finds a bushranger’scabbage-tree’hat. Grandpa tells Tommy about a
bushranger called Captain Thunderbolt who roamed around Uralla in the 1860s on
his horse also called Combo. Thereafter Tommy is transported back in time to
find himself involved with Fred Ward who bails up a coach. This turns out to be
Captain Thunderbolt himself.

In the rest of the story,
author Jane Smith interweaves Tommy’s journey with his family and Combo to a
dressage event, with unpredictable ventures in 1850s Victorian goldfields.At the conclusion of this adventure
story, there is an historical note about Thunderbolt as well as a question and
answer section.

InThe Horse Thief, Tommy again
finds himself in trouble at school with a new friend. It transpires that
Francis is less trouble than the bushranger Tommy meets while wearing his
bushranger’s hat which once again takes him back to the gold rush days.
Continuing his time-travel adventures, Tommy finds himself involved in a horse
robbery, a police chase and a prison escape. This time he is involved, too,
with another bushranger -- Francis Christie, a skilled horse rider whose alias
is familiar to Australian history buffs – Frank Gardiner.

For readers who like
historical facts, there are footnotes again in this book which tell more about
Gardiner and his life. The writing in both books is clear and fast-paced while
the illustrations that highlight aspects of the narration are stark and simple,
with thick black lines reminiscent of wood-cut prints.

These books would suit
readers, particularly boys, aged 9 to 12 years.

Wednesday, 22 February 2017

Fairytales have
long told of magic mirrors and Cornelia Funke’s Reckless series – a story inspired by the Grimm brothers – features
one that is a portal to an alternate fantasy world (‘Mirrorworld’).

In The Golden Yarn, Jacob discovers a
Rumpelstiltskin-like character (Spieler) in the human world, while trying to
hide the legendary crossbow he found in Living
Shadows. It seems the Reckless brothers are not the only ones who can cross
between worlds … and theirs is not the only mirror.

Funke slowly
weaves us through the plots and subplots of this third story in the series, as
we absorb the details of the world she has built. First, Kami’en and Amelie’s
baby goes missing. Then, the Dark Fairy disappears. Clara is in a Sleeping
Beauty slumber so Will is seeking the Dark Fairy. Jacob is looking for Will …
with several distractions along the way. He meets elf siblings, ‘Sixteen’ and
‘Seventeen’, who steal faces from mirrors to disguise themselves. He also meets
… his long-lost father! Having struck a painful deal with Spieler, Jacob keeps
his distance from his true love (Fox), who then falls in love with someone
else. We also learn more about Will’s cursed skin from the first book, The Petrified Flesh.

This series will
appeal to young adult readers of fantasy, particularly fans of Funke’s prior
works (such as the Inkheart trilogy).
Reading the first two novels in the series is a must as Funke releases crucial
details at different points across the series. There is always a sense that she
knows much more than she has revealed! Admittedly, this can either hook her
readers or frustrate them.

Funke has
revised and re-released The Petrified
Flesh, retaining the original story but adding more depth to her
characters. (The portrayal of darkness and light in her characters is
definitely her forte, with her writing beautifully depicting the hesitation in
their actions.) The second novel, Living
Shadows, has also been re-jacketed. She is currently working on a fourth
book in the series.

Tuesday, 21 February 2017

Dad wants to make a barbeque. He comes from a long
line of barbie builders and thinks shop bought barbies are for wimps. The
trouble is Dad’s not very good at building things. The Great Barbie Disaster is a very funny story about all of his attempts
to construct the perfect backyard barbie and what goes wrong – very wrong –
each time.

There’s nothing more Aussie than a backyard barbie
in the summer and this story captures the essence of summer and family. I
related strongly as my father was a backyard builder and I suspect there are
lots of kids out there who have watched or helped as Dad constructed a chicken
coop, barbeque, cubby or outdoor furniture with varying degrees of success who
will relate to this tale as well.

Part of the Mates
series, this title is filled with the humour, Australian culture and entertaining
storylines these Great Aussie Yarns are
known for. Written for the eight year old age range, short chapters, large
varied font and illustrations - which break up the text, filling the pages with
colour and appeal - make this a perfect tale for beginner and young readers. The
text is clear and uncomplicated and explains concepts such as the waste station
within the story.

The voice of the girl who narrates the story is
engaging. She is laid-back with just a tinge of sarcasm, but clearly loves and
admires her Dad.

Using soft colours, the illustrator has created
pictures which echo the humour of the words, enhancing the story and adding the
enjoyment of the reading experience. These pictures, large and small, fill the
pages and bring the characters to life.

Monday, 20 February 2017

Pig the Pug and his good friend Trevor are back.
This time it’s Pig’s need to win at all costs that is highlighted. And as
always, it is up to Trevor to save the day, and
the Pug, but does this long suffering sausage dog get any thanks? Well, no, not
really. But Pig does learn his lesson and the two dogs emerge as close as they
were in the beginning.

Pig
the Winner is a hilarious look at fair play and sportsmanship.

Told in rollicking, rhyming verse which is a joy to read aloud, this cautionary
tale will be an instant hit for those, young and old who have already fallen in
love with these two dogs, and for those who are meeting them for the first
time.

Trevor would say to him

‘Let’s just have fun.’

But Pig would reply –

‘It
ain’t fun till I’ve won!’

The illustrations support the tone and humour of the
story. Bright, glossy pages feature fabulous expressions on the two friends,
taking the meaning of the text a step further.

Fabulous fun for three year olds and older, Pig the Winner is the third Pig the Pug book. Each is as enjoyable
as the last.

Aaron Blabey is a multi-award-winning
author/illustrator and his genius is not in picture books alone. The Bad Guys is a very funny graphic
novel series for middle grade readers which I would highly recommend as
well.

Sunday, 19 February 2017

With all the
intrigue that is synonymous with the writing of Gary Crew, The Visions of Ichabod X is a picture book whichmixes the past with the future to
convey a powerful and significant message of environmental sustainability.
Narrated in the hypnotic voice of the ageing caretaker of Raven’s Eye Cemetery,
the tale begins as he explains how one headstone has always puzzled him, that
of Ichabod X. This stone, which
commemorates the short life of the gypsy child Ichabod, shows no signs of the
wearing of the elements, despite the decay of others and that of the crumbling
church that sits in the grounds.

Years before, so the caretaker reveals, the
mysterious boy had appeared to warn the man of the perilous future of the
earth. The boy leaves behind him curious contraptions, his “aids to see the
future”. As mysteriously as Ichabod appears, he never returns. From this
point, the reflections of the caretaker
and his drawings, what he imagines Ichabod could see, continue wordlessly to an
ending which challenges the reader to imagine and reflect.

The
illustrations are equally as intriguing as the text. Steeped in sepia tones to
create a sense of vintage combined with steam punk images, Paul O’Sullivan
enhances the tale and provides a deeper level of meaning for the engaged
reader. Exploring the symbolism is absorbing and a catalyst for discussion. Biblical
references are significant and are not confined to Ichabod (the Book of
Samuel), the raven (perhaps the all-seeing God’s messenger) and the old man’s
biblical quote of, “There is a time for everything…”. The oak tree and oak leaf
represent endurance, wisdom, strength and significantly, new life.

Throughout
the tale, the clocks, and timepieces, both broken and intact suggest to the
reader that time is running out. There are so many layers to peel, with the
“unlocking” of colour being a symbolic transition to a series of wordless
double-page spreads that delve deeply into the conflict between nature and the
industrialised world.

I continue to
return to The Visions of Ichabod X
and each time I am delighted to make a new discovery. This is a text for the late
primary years and up. It is a thought-provoking tale which will challenge the
reader to explore their own perspective on the future of the earth.

Saturday, 18 February 2017

Where
is H.G. Wells’ legendary Time Machine? Still travelling into the past, the
future, or lost somewhere in the here and now?

Will
Enoch find out?

Take
the journey with him.

Based on H.G.
Wells’ The Time Machine (1895), this
is a picture book of intrigue from Gary Crew and Paul O’Sullivan, the creators
of the thought-provoking The Visions of
Ichabod X.

Upon a class visit to the
museum, Enoch ignores the final closing message and chooses to explore the
chambers revealed by the towering, broken doors through which he alone has
entered. A shadowy creature is lurking and Enoch, dazed from a fall, remains
unaware of its presence as he follows the light to what he thinks will be
safety. Ultimately, it leads him to an astounding discovery. Framing the
mysterious and captivating narrative are quotes from The Time Machine which combine with an intriguing, somewhat
menacing extra-terrestrial element.

Illustrated in
steampunk style using pencil and digital colour, the images enhance the text
and ask many questions of the perceptive reader. The layout features a range of
techniques from sparse text to double-page spreads and filmstrip frames which
are in keeping with the projector image on the title page. The fascinating use
of light and shadow adds to the mysterious tone, including a moment when light
falling on the boy’s face reveals cat-like pupils which later return to their
human form. The clever endpapers feature Queensland’s Glasshouse Mountains and
are not to be missed!

As we expect
from Gary Crew, the reader arrives at an inclusive ending with questions
begging to be answered. Timing the
Machine is both a mesmerising and thought-provoking
picture book for older readers.

Friday, 17 February 2017

Beaky
Malone is a self-confessed Olympic-level liar. He tells so many crazy lies he drives
his family completely mad, particularly his sister, Jodie.

On
a road trip with extended family and ever-present dog Destructo, Beaky’s lies
are bigger and more elaborate than ever. Just when Jodie reaches breaking
point, she and Beaky are sent out in search of fish and chips. Instead, they
come across the mysterious Madame Shirley’s Marvellous Emporium of
Peculiarities, home to the world’s only truth-telling machine. After Beaky’s
shoved inside, it and *gasp* it actually works, Beaky can tell nothing but the
truth. At this point, the story really ramps up the fun factor, with Beaky
revealing everything from gross personal habits to his canteen lady crush.

This
is a super fun read for mid to older primary school aged readers who appreciate
a bit of sarcasm, and will understand references to Instagram and the like. The
outrageous truth-telling capers don’t stop at the end of the book though – a
second title in the middle grade series is due out in
January.

Thursday, 16 February 2017

This
is one of those books you just can’t put down: you are hooked from beginning
till end. Tozer is past winner of the prestigious Gold Inky Award and has
produced a rip-roaring read on so many levels.
This book delivers in a rad way for YA readers and adults, too.

It
is so much more than just a boy meets girl story, touching upon so many
themes: love, friendship, change, grief,
parents, the end of school, university, travel and survival. Staying true to yourself proves to be the
hardest challenge of all.

Milo
is smart and clever but since finishing high school, he hasn’t been able to
make a decision about the next step to take in life. He is left behind while his cohort is off at
university, travelling and working. Milo is frozen with the inability to make a
choice. He is stuck at home, in a small
town working in his parent’s bookshop feeling pressured not to waste an awesome
UAI and feeling like a loser.

Sal
his girlfriend is living away at uni, studying and partying hard. The gap between Milo and Sal widens more and
more each day. Quirky Layla has suffered a great loss in
life. She is back in town, hoping to find the grounding and healing that she
needs. Milo’s older brother Trent is the loser of the family and is secretly
pleased that the golden boy of the family is losing his halo. The characters are believable, annoying and
lovable.

‘I rattle
through the boring stuff – eighteen, from Durnan, Sal’s boyfriend of two years,
doing the long distance thing while she’s studying in Canberra – to disguise
the fact that I don’t have answers for most of her other questions.’

This
is a summer that starts in a tangled mess and ends leaving the reader wanting
to know more about what happens in the lives of these teenagers. Keep your Fingers and toes are crossed and
hope that Tozerwrites a sequel to Remind Me How This Ends.

This
book would be suitable for ages 14+ years.
Definitely, put it on your hit list for 2017 for teenage readers.

Wednesday, 15 February 2017

From the minute I started reading
Lily in the Mirror I was won over.
This chapter book for middle readers has heart, humour and charm. It also has
magic, mystery and a family secret for Lily to unravel when she goes to stay
with her grandfather.

Her paranormal investigation of
the ‘Rosy Room’ at Grandad’s house leads to the discovery of a magical mirror
and the excitement of finding a new and unusual friend who needs her help.

Lily, who loves words, Grandad’s
ganache cake, and all things dark and mysterious, come vividly to life through
the pages of her journal. She’s an absolute delight as she documents her family
life and her Rosy Room discoveries.

Paula Hayes’ writing is fresh,
lively, original and insightful. There’s plenty of humour throughout yet this
book also deals sensitively with the impact of a grandparent’s dementia on a
child.

I highly recommend it for mid to
upper primary readers and every grownup who is a kid in disguise. I do hope I
meet Lily again soon in the pages of a new adventure.

Tuesday, 14 February 2017

Award-winning
YA author Kate McCaffrey explores cyber bullying from a new perspective in her
latest release that should be essential reading for every young person in this
age of widespread social media use.

Saving Jazz is a
powerful story about the devastating consequences of a group of teens’ drunken
behaviour at a house party. When it goes viral no one’s life will ever be the
same.

Told
through a series of blog confessions by Jasmine - Jazz - Lovely, I found it at
times confronting and disturbing but so compelling I couldn’t put it down.

For
Jazz, the choices she and her friends make one night will change the direction
of their future. As she writes in her first blog post, ‘The worst thing about regret is there is no way to undo it. No way to
go back in time and make better choices.’

The
admission at the start of Post 1 sets the scene for a gripping read: ‘I am a rapist.’ From there, Jazz reveals with raw honesty the
lead-up to and aftermath of a shocking incident that leads to consequences Jazz
and her friends Annie and Jack could never have imagined.

McCaffrey
has a gift for capturing an authentic teen voice. Her previous titles -Destroying Avalon, In Ecstasy, Crashing Down
and Beautiful Monster - have all
garnered awards. Saving Jazz is the
follow-up title to Destroying Avalon.

It
should have a place on every high school English reading list. Teaching notes
are available from the publisher.

Monday, 13 February 2017

Flying through
the Clouds
takes readers on an entertaining ride with 14-year-old, Joe Riley, a boy who
author Michelle Morgan first introduced in her successful 2014 novel Racing the Moon (Allen &
Unwin). Joe is a rebellious lad with an
impetuous streak that often lands him in trouble, but Morgan skillfully
counterbalances this with glimpses into his inner thoughts that show him to be
good-natured.

The
book is set in Australia during the early 1930s when the country was in the
throes of the Great Depression. However, Joe’s mother and sister have plenty of
sewing work to do, and his father is an illegal bookie and debt collector.
Unlike much of the population, the Riley family doesn’t appear to be too
unfavorably affected by the Depression. This isn’t a criticism of the author. No
doubt there were those who coped with adversity better than others, and it
could be said that it’s to Morgan’s credit that she took a less obvious
approach than other Depression stories have taken.

Joe’s
dad is a hard man, who is quick to discipline his sons with a strap, or a
backhander. He is also a heavy drinker. Not, it would seem, an ideal father,
but once again Morgan manages to show his good side, and it’s great to see
that, as in life, the characters in Flying
through Clouds have positive aspects, as well as negative ones.

Morgan
has done a brilliant job in researching this era. Fact after fact comes
tumbling out, but none are boringly presented; instead they are seamlessly
woven into the narrative. Through the course of the book Joe joins the Boy Scouts
and takes a flying lesson, his first step to becoming an aviator, just like his
hero Charles Kingsford Smith (Smithy). As Joe learns, so does the reader;
in-depth knowledge about the Scouts and flying add an extra layer of reality to
Joe’s often daring escapades.

I
enjoyed this story. It was well-written and believable, and Joe is a very
likeable character. Read it for its accurate depiction of Depression-era
Sydney. Read it for a rattling good story; it’s highly recommended.

Flying through Cloudscan be ordered from bookshops and educational and
library suppliers from 2 April or from www.michellejmorgan.com.au

Bill Condon’s
latest novel is All
Of Us Together (About Kids Books,
2016).

Sunday, 12 February 2017

Debut
author Vivathas creatively written a
fun, engaging book that has a strong voice for a young reader. This book would
suit 8-12 year olds. Vivat’s clever
doodles and illustrations sparkle and show emotion with honesty and warmth.
They show the dramatic Abbie Wu as a loveable, honest and likeable
character. How can you not like Abbie
Wu’s open heart?

Vivat’soriginal style of writing speaks
clearly to young readers in their own language.
The story moves at a lively pace with a fun sense of humour.

‘Not
all adults are that honest. On the way home from back-to-school shopping, Mum
made a surprise stop at Antonia’s and offered to buy me a pastry. But, turns
out, the pastry was a trap! Let’s talk about school.’

The
themes of change, finding your ‘thing’ and fitting in are popular with middle
grade students. School is a big deal at
this age, and making subject choices and fitting in is very important. Abbie is a middle child too so she is stuck
in the middle of everywhere. Being in
the middle makes you invisible.

Abbie
Wu is dramatic and everything is always a crisis: ‘I am guaranteed without a
doubt 100% doomed.’

Vivat
shares pieces of herself in her character Abbie Wu who just makes you
smile. Once you start reading this book
it’s hard to put down.

Frazzled will have leave
young readers wanting more of Abbie Wu. I wouldn’t be surprised if a series is
written about Abbie Wu.

Saturday, 11 February 2017

A picture book for children aged
2 to 6 years, this is a debut book written by a primary school teacher and an
illustrator who has produced over 100 books and has been short-listed for the
CBCA Book of the Year awards. It is one of a number of books produced by The
Big Little Book Club which distributes free books to parents to improve
children’s literacy.

In rhyming text, this story tells
of dingo who ‘wore his coat with pride/while dancing with delight’ in the
northern desert sands. When the Outback Dance is held near Bunyip’s Bluff,
Dingo bemoans the fact that he has no pants to wear like the other ‘animals in
fancy pants’. These animals -- emu, wombat, kangaroo et al –offer to sew pants
for dingo when none will fit him. Finally he is beautifully outfitted in
multi-coloured attire with fringe, baubles, and a decorate belt. Finally,
dressed appropriately the dingo frolics with ‘his pants so fancy’ under the
Southern Cross with a multitude of animals.

This is a simple story, nothing
deep and meaningful with bright, cheerful illustrations that is sure to amuse
children aged 12 months to three years.

Friday, 10 February 2017

Here is another well-designed and
well-crafted picture book commissioned by The Little Big Book Club to
distribute to parents with the aim of raising literacy in Australia among small
children. Attractive painted full-page illustrations and strong repetitive
lines introduce the reader to mother hen on her nest in a box with four
chickens which have just hatched. Each of the chicks said ‘cheep’ but the ‘last
little chicken said… ‘Chickabee!’

Yes, there’s always someone who
doesn’t conform! Every time each of the chicks says something (repeated by the
others), the last little chicken only says ‘Chickabee.’ When Mother Hen says,
‘No’ and this is repeated by its siblings, the Little Chicken sets off to see
the world. Along the way it meets other animals – such as a horse, a cow and a
duck – each of which tell him that chickens ought not to say ‘Chickabee’. When
the chick asks why, Duck says, ‘It sounds as if you don’t want to be a chicken,
that’s why.’

Back home goes Little Chicken,
but it still doesn’t fit in. So once again it ventures into the wide world
where it meets a range of machines the sounds of which is imitates. Finally it
meets a pig which goes with it back home. There Little Chicken is finally
accepted by Mother Hen, even though it still hasn’t conformed.

This is a delightful,
heart-warming story about acceptance which mirrors the story of a small child
which ventures into the world with all of its differences, but is always
accepted by its family and friends. Children aged 2 to 5 years are sure to be
enchanted by this simple tale.

Wednesday, 8 February 2017

This book was sponsored by an Australian organisation with an early intervention literacy campaign educating
parents to read to their children from birth. The Little Big Book Club was
officially launched in 2005 and in the following year, 20,000
families across the state with a baby aged 0-12 months were given the first
free 'reading pack for babies'.

A board book
with rounded corners for babies to handle safely, Baby Dance has one or two
lines on each page starting with ‘Baby hears, baby beat/Baby steps, baby feet’.
Its first pen and wash illustrations are of a wombat, followed by other
Australian animals such as a cockatoo, anteater and marsupial mouse. Each of
the actions described is something any baby does, such as yawning, peeping, waving and
blinking. Thus a parent reading to his or her baby can perform the actions as
the words are read aloud – a great bonding experience!

Simply worded,
designed and illustrated with lots of white space, this is an ideal book to
share with a child from birth to two years.

What really
happened the day 17-year-old Helena Kelly disappeared? Did somebody take her,
or did she choose to leave? Helena’s body was found four years later, not far
from her family home, but the police couldn’t solve the murder and eventually
closed the case. Aerin, Helena’s younger sister, seems to be the only one
fighting for answers. Now aged 16 years old, she feels disengaged with the
world (and her parents) but masks her depression by distracting herself with
whatever means are available at wild teenage parties. At home, her sister’s
death is all she can think about. She finds herself logging on to a website
called ‘Case Not Closed’, and posts a desperate plea for help in finding her
sister’s murderer. That’s how she meets Seneca, Maddox and Brett, amateur
sleuths who want to help (each for their own reasons).

They team up
together, each bringing different knowledge and ideas to the case. It isn’t
long before the threats and attacks begin. Somebody in town knows they’re
investigating, and they’re keen to scare them away. They believe the attacks
mean they are getting closer to the truth … but perhaps the truth is even
closer than they realise.

This is a
gripping, cleverly written murder mystery for readers aged 12–16 years. There
are plenty of plot twists and developments that drive the story forward, making
this novel difficult to put down. It is the first in a new series of books by
bestselling author Sara Shepard, who wrote Pretty
Little Liars. The novel ends with quite a major plot twist, so I’m sure
readers will be keenly awaiting the sequel (due to be published around the
middle of 2017). The main characters are well developed, strong and likeable,
each of them interesting for different reasons. It will be great to learn more
about them as the series progresses.

Tuesday, 7 February 2017

‘There are times when you have to do the right
thing, no matter how scary.’

Meet Jim Sturges
Junior – high school outcast by day, brave ‘Trollhunter’ by night. Jim lives
with his dad, a terrified, overprotective man who has been that way since his
big brother went missing 45 years earlier. His extreme anxiety and strange
behaviour doesn’t exactly help Jim in the popularity stakes at school, where he
struggles with bullying, unrequited love and being athletically inept. At least
he has a best friend, ‘Tubby’ … though their friendship is about to be tested.

Jim’s Uncle Jack
had been the last of 190 kids to go missing in the ‘Milk Carton Epidemic’ 45
years earlier, and things have been pretty quiet in San Bernardino, California,
ever since … until children start to go missing once more. It turns out the
Sturges’ family name is connected with a long history of troll hunting, and Jim
is going to learn his destiny the hard way – by encountering a troll in the
flesh.

This fantasy
adventure story is targeted to kids aged 12–18, and will likely appeal to fans
of Derek Landy’s Skulduggery Pleasant
books. Even readers who don’t normally read fantasy will find elements of the
story to relate to, given it’s grounded in a realistic high-school setting. The
novel can be rather gory – there are detailed descriptions of human flesh being
eaten, and internal organs spurting – but I found the gruesome scenes were
often pleasantly offset with some extremely amusing writing! (This book also
has, hands down, the best tirade of back-to-back Scottish insults in a single
paragraph that I have ever come across!)

The novel has
been written by an award-winning duo – well-known director, Guillermo del Toro,
and Daniel Kraus, author of several fantasy novels. There are a handful of
full-page black and white illustrations also, rich in detailed linework, by Sean
Murray. The book is the inspiration behind the Netflix ‘Trollhunters’ series by
DreamWorks.